About the Courts

Levels of Minnesota Courts:

• Supreme Court
• Court of Appeals
• District (Trial) Courts

Judicial Branch FY24/25 Biennial Budget:

• District Courts- $740,900,000
• Court of Appeals- $29,818,000
• Supreme Court/State Court Administration- $95,645,000
• Total- $866,363,000

How judges are selected:

Minnesota Judicial Branch judges are elected in a general election on a non-partisan basis. For the district court, vacancies between general elections are filled by appointment by the governor typically from a list recommended by the Commission on Judicial Selection.  For the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, vacancies between general elections are filled by appointment by the governor.  Terms of Office: 6 years
 

Number of Authorized Judgeships:

• Supreme Court- 7
• Court of Appeals- 19
• District (Trial) Courts- 296
• Total- 322

Judicial Salaries – FY25:

• Supreme Court Chief Justice - $236,429
• Supreme Court Associate Justice - $214,935
• Court of Appeals Chief Judge - $212,650
• Court of Appeals Judge - $202,528
• District Court Chief Judge - $199,622
• District Court Judge - $190,117

General Information:

• Permanent Full-Time Employee Positions Authorized (excluding judges): Appx. 2,500
• Judicial Districts: 10
• Funding: State-funded
• Number of Judicial Branch hearing facilities: 103
• Oldest Courthouse: Washington County Courthouse, 101 West Pine Street, Stillwater, 1869.
• Oldest Operational Courthouse: Dodge County Courthouse, 22 6th Street E, Mantorville, 1871.
• Number of Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places: 62

For more information about the Minnesota Judicial Branch, please see the Informational Brochures.